End hunger

To the Editor:

How do you feel about living in the richest country in the world with so many hungry here? In 2011, the estimated costs for hunger was $167.5 billion, including effects on health, education and economic productivity. Also, 1.46 million U.S. households (2.8 million children) lived on less than $2 per person per day.

We can eliminate most hunger in the U.S. in 10 years. How? Ensure that all jobs pay enough so no full-time worker has to support a family in poverty. Strengthen nutrition and other anti-poverty programs so that if a family suffers a sharp drop in income due to a job loss, illness, etc., none of the family are at risk of hunger. Invest in human development through education and skills for jobs the country needs.

Poverty, education and earnings are at the root of the human-capital challenge. Call or write your congressional representatives to make ending hunger a priority (http://www.bread.org).